Fall Camp Day #5: Sumlin, McKinney, Michael, Malena

Kevin Sumlin

On practicing in pads…

"It really isn’t much different for us than shoulder pads and helmets. We put the pants on and they just hotter more than anything. We were out there for a long time. We start our routine today for camp even though tomorrow will be out first two-a-day practice, but we started our routine outside stuff. Spencer Tillman came in today to talk to our team for about 45 minutes, just about some motivational things he does an excellent job with that, just from his life experiences, we’re really blessed to have him today.

"I think he really touched some players in different ways just in his experiences and expectations. We had him at Houston and I think he’s been really effective. Kind of kicked the day off that way, that’s why practice was pushed back to 6. We’re out there for 2 hours 15 minutes, it was a little warm out there in full pads. Pants make a difference."

On the young defensive backs…

"We don’t have any other choice. We can’t trade, there’s no waiver wire in college football. We’ve got what we’ve got. Experience is one thing. We’ve got some really good athleticism back there. I’m anxious to see what happens Saturday when we’re tackling. Deshazor and Floyd Raven really had a pretty good spring from a physical standpoint. We’ve got some coverage things we need to work on.

"Otis Jacobs did well. We’ve got to figure out what we’re doing. DeVante coming in has helped us and some other guys, C.J. Jones, is a guy that’s made plays on special teams that’s got some speed. Where we’ve got to make some real strides is at safety and figure out what pieces to the puzzle we can have. In spring we were piecemeal, but Stephen Campbell and Steven Terrell have done some good things in the last couple days. Their issue is a health issue more than anything.

"Everybody knows they can play, we’ve had a couple guys that, for whatever reason, haven’t made a season offensively and defensively. Hopefully, the spring off with surgeries and conditioning has helped that. Those guys are plugging along really well right now, we just need that to continue."

On the progression of Christine Michael…

"I’m really excited, I think he his too. I think he’s got an energy level. Every now and then, he’ll run the ball and I’ll hear him scream. It’s a yell indicating he’s pretty happy to open that up. He made a couple cuts I wasn’t sure he could make in the last couple days and I was like ‘wow’. I think he’s come along really well. He ‘s had a little contact every now and then, we haven’t done a whole lot yet. They hit him every now and then just to make sure he’s alive and can hang on to the ball.

"We’re going to have to hit him some Saturday to make sure he hangs on to the ball, no one has touched him in a while. His toughness is not an issue. Whether or not we get the waiver back on Brandon Williams, I just think the chemistry of that running back group is really, really good. Just from a competitive standpoint, Coach McKinney has done a fabulous job with those guys. For those have seen any practice, with Christine [Michael] and Ben [Malena] and Trey [Williams] being eligible to play right now, and Brandon [Williams] and Trey [Carson] coming to practice, Trey Carson’s been a pleasant surprise too.

"Those guys are all highly recruited guys and competitors. Whether they play or not, it shows when they practice. The guys that play that position have a lot of pride and I think they make each other better."

On rotating running backs…

"I’ve done it in the past wherever I’ve been. I think that right now across football, you’ll find more coaches that want to rotate running backs more than not. We did it at Oklahoma. At Houston we had back-to-back newcomers every year at running back: Brice Bill and Charles Sims. Last year we played three with Mike Hays. From our standpoint, bad things happen to running backs when they get tired. They either get hurt, commit turnovers or both. Running backs quickly understand that they’re ability to stay fresh throughout the year is important and I think that’s why we’ve been able to recruit so well.

"Everybody says we don’t run the ball, which is fine. But I think people who watched us play who know a little about our offense know [we run the ball]. I think that’s why we keep getting really good running backs because they know we’re going to run the ball and they’re going to learn to catch, too. If they want to make money playing then they better be able to do both."

On his defensive evaluation…

"I think we’re trying to find pieces, we’ve got to give everyone a chance right now. It’s hard with continuity. There are so many new guys we’ve got to get a look at up front. We’ve got so many guys we’ve got to plug in at linebacker, also. Defense is a team deal. We’ve got to get those guys a look and see where they are.  I want to give them all enough reps so they’re comfortable on Saturdays to go out there and play the defensive call and make the adjustments. It’s not just the defensive call — they play this, we’ve got to play that — because all of a sudden they check, we check. Things are happening fast for a young guy.

"We want to give them enough so they come out and play the game so we can evaluate them Saturday and really start to move on from there. I’ll have a better answer for you after Saturday. I look out there and I need a roster like you guys (laughter). I’m like ‘who is that’. At one time Polo was out there, Obioha was out there, Richmond was out there, DeVante was out there, Alonzo was out there. We’re working Alonzo and Polo some inside, too. They’re eating at the training table now so they’re no longer at 250, they’re in the 270 range.

"We’ve got to find some bodies and we’ve got to get some guys going. Today it was like a whole new defense was out there for a couple snaps, but we’ve got to evaluate those guys. We’ve got two practices tomorrow and then another one Friday plus a walkthrough just so that they know what they’re doing on Saturday."

Clarence McKinney

* It's amazing how well the guys want each other to succeed; they block well for each other.

* Without a doubt, C-Mike is the leader of the group. It starts with him. He's been great. He's taken to coaching, taken the young guys under his wing and been a leader.

* Playing with three backs at Houston, personally, that experience really helps because these guys are similarly talented. After having managed a similarly-talented group, it helps lend the experience of handled that situation before.

* C-Mike is not limited at all. He hasn't missed one drill, hasn't missed a rep. He's going full contact and everyone's glad he's back. It's not surprising, with this technology.

* All these guys are very different and bring something different to the table. C-Mike is a powerful guy whereas Brandon is a bit of a slasher. Ben is the brains back there. He understands everything going on, where to be and when to be there. Trey Williams is a special talent. He's not quite ready, not there, but he will be. The future is bright. It's definitely with pass protection. He has no problems with the ball in his hands. It's pass protection and the playbook.

* The guys that were here in the spring had 15 practices under their belt before camp, so they're more up to date. Malena is the best pass protector. If there's a situation where it's the last play of the game and that guy is needed to protect, Ben will be in the game.

* If you've done the research on the Houston offenses, the running backs have been amazing the last few years. Three schools had over 5.5 yards a carry and UH was one of them. Throwing the ball gets all the credit, but the ball will be run as well.

* The guys are improving in pass-catching. They catch balls all day, before practice, after practice. It's a skill they can get better at; it's just a matter of them catching as many as they can.

Christine Michael

*He’s blessed to be back to contribute. He wants to follow Cyrus Gray’s example to lead the team and teach the younger guys.

*He’s excited about the running backs. Brandon Williams is a slashing guy, Trey Williams is very talented, Malena is the brains of the operation who knows his plays and is very adept at pass blocking with his low center of gravity. Anybody could start.

*He doesn’t think about his numbers with a full season. Just wants to take it one play at a time.

*He’s excited to be back in pads. He got a lot of confidence back after the first contact.

*His motto is ‘no days off’. He does anything he can to be stronger for the SEC.

*Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore are all very good. They all think they’re the best running back in the league. They’re all very talented. Michael’s goal is to be the best running back in the country going into the NFL.

*He’s tried to work on being more knowledgeable of the game. He’s tried to pay more attention to what the quarterback is doing, what the line is doing, knowing his assignments and setting up blocks.

*The difference in Sumlin’s offense is it’s considerably faster. You have to be in shape. Schematically, it’s a fast-tempo offense that requires quick thinking. You’ve got to know the play that’s called and roll with it.

*He and Knile Davis don’t go too far back but they respect each other as football players. Davis is a great guy off the field and he has no problems with him.

Ben Malena

* As a running back, it's just about going out there and competing. Know assignments, try not to make mental mistakes and be the best player on the field every day.

* It's just about paying attention to detail, getting extra time in the film room and studying extra defenses.

* Stepping up late in the season was a great confidence-booster, getting playing time under the belt; it led to a lot of hard work over the offseason to be a leader on this team and contribute to it as well.

* The RB group doesn't worry about injury. It's about going out on the field and trying to make the right play at the right time.

* C-Mike is a beast. He's one of the best running backs coming out this year. He's a beast.

* It's not the fact that I offer anything differently, it's just that as a whole we just try to be the best player on the field at that time. If our number is called, we make the necessary play.

* Thanks to Larry Jackson and his summer conditioning program, going out there it looks like everybody has toned up. Everybody is cut up and we're in the best shape we've ever been in at A&M. I'm playing at about the same weight but more in shape.

* Trey Williams is young but he's learning the offense. He's a talent. He was a five-star recruit coming in and he is as advertised. If he gets the opportunity, he'll contribute. C-Mike, Brandon Williams and I all as a whole take pass protection as a pride. If you don't do it, the QB will get killed. It's a pride.